Modular Bento Bag

RECALIBRATE — Knitter: Allena W.
Handspun yarn

I gravitate towards rhythmic, intuitive, and practical designs, and this pattern checks all those boxes for me. MODULAR BENTO BAG uses garter stitch modular construction with worsted weight cotton yarn to create a surprisingly functional finished object. You’ll find a purpose for each of the 4 bag sizes: smaller sizes work well for children’s toys or a small jar of jam, and larger sizes are perfect for fruits, vegetables, or a loaf of bread at the farmers’ market. Washable cotton yarn makes the bag easy to launder, and it folds up into itself for easy storage. Adjust the handle length to meet your needs, creating shorter handles to attach to a carabiner clip, longer handles to fit around a wrist, or one of each! Experiment with striping and color blocking for a truly unique bag. Create a bag or two for farmers’ market purchases or knit one to hold a gift.

Modular Bento Bag on Ravelry

Modular Bento Bag on Payhip

Find full gallery images here.

YARN
Knit Picks Dishie or Dishie Twist in 2 or more colors or similar worsted weight cotton dishcloth yarn.
100% Cotton, 190 yd / 174 m per 100 g, www.knitpicks.com

Samples shown in 3 colors with various stripe patterns:
Dishie Twist in colorway Black, and Dishie in colorways Black and Kenai

Yarn requirements per size:
Size 1: 61 yd / 56 m (32 g)
Size 2: 125 yd / 114 m (66 g)
Size 3: 270 yd / 247 m (142 g)
Size 4: 462 yd / 423 m (243 g)
Yarn estimate includes 10% buffer.

GAUGE & NEEDLES
15 stitches & 30 rows = 4” / 10 cm in garter stitch knit flat
US 6 / 4.0 mm or size needed to get gauge, minimum length 16” / 40 cm
Gauge is not critical but will impact the feel of the fabric and final size of the bag.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS
Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4)
Width: 6” (9”, 13.6”, 18.1”) / 15.2 (22.9, 34.5, 46) cm
Height: 6” (9”, 13.6”, 18.1”) / 15.2 (22.9, 34.5, 46) cm
See schematic for additional size information.

TECHNIQUES
Provisional cast-on, knit stitch, join-as-you-go modular knitting, icord bind-off in the round

PATTERN ATTRIBUTES
This is a written pattern with a schematic and photo tutorials.

EXPLORE ON INSTAGRAM
#ModularBentoBag

Tech editing: Bronwyn Hahn
Test knitting: Cathy A., Niad A., Rhianda G., Sarah J., Amanda K., Jennie K., Katie M., Sondra P., Linda S., Rachel S., Vicky S. & Emilia W.

From Allena W. / Starknits

Shana is such a fun person and I enjoy spending time with her. Her energy comes through in classes and her patterns. I love the modular knitting and how her patterns are written. I love how open to making it your own Shana is. I’ve test knit a few of her patterns and she always is down for using handspun or different yarn or adding a detail to make it specific to the knitter.

Allena was a test knitter for Semantics, Modular Coffee Cup Cozy, Shoulder Season and Split Decision Mitts.

From Eimear B.

I only recently became aware of Shana’s patterns and I chose to knit Recalibrate. I’m usually a top down in the round kind of knitter so I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this pattern – wow was I wrong! It was so enjoyable! A fun well written pattern that I just flew through! I really love the end result too!

I then was lucky enough to meet and take a class with Shana at SSK this year and all I can say is she’s an all round great person and fantastic teacher! If you get the chance to knit a Shana pattern, meet or take a class with Shana then don’t hesitate.

Eimear has knit Recalibrate, and attended a class at Super Summer Knitogether (SSK) retreat in Nashville, TN in July, 2023.

From Lynn C.

I have made a couple of Shana’s designs and love them. Her patterns are clear, knit up perfectly and are unique. I always learn something new and enjoy both the process and the final product. I look forward to knitting more of her designs.

Lynn has knit Moduloncho and Coin Flip Hat, and was a test knitter for Side Hustle Wrap (Light).